Ion acceleration and coherent structures generated by lower hybrid shear-driven instabilities

Journal Article · Mon Dec 14 00:00:00 EST 1992 · Physical Review Letters; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.69.3503· OSTI ID:6933342

Romero, H; Ganguli, G ^[1]; Lee, Y C ^[2]

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1. Space Plasma Branch, Plasma Physics Division Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. 20375 (United States)
2. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742 (United States)

It is shown that if [kappa]=[omega][sub [ital S]]/[omega][sub LH][gt]1 ([omega][sub [ital S]] and [omega][sub LH] are the shear and lower hybrid frequencies), a sheared electron cross-field flow excites the electron-ion-hybrid mode, causing significant perpendicular ion acceleration. The electric potential develops coherent structures (vortexlike) longer than the electron Larmor radius, [rho][sub [ital e]]. For [kappa][lt]1, a smooth transition occurs where the wavelength becomes of the order of [rho][sub [ital e]], the lower hybid drift instability dominates, and the formation of vortexlike structures is no longer observed. The results are relevant to laboratory, laser-produced, and space plasmas.

• OSTI ID: 6933342
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters; (United States), Vol. 69:24; ISSN 0031-9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
PLASMA
DRIFT INSTABILITY
ACCELERATION
COULOMB FIELD
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
IONS
LABORATORIES
LARMOR RADIUS
LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
PLASMA MICROINSTABILITIES
RESONANCE
SHEAR
SPACE
THEORETICAL DATA
VORTICES
CHARGED PARTICLES
DATA
ELECTRIC FIELDS
INFORMATION
INSTABILITY
NUMERICAL DATA
PLASMA INSTABILITY
700340* - Plasma Waves
Oscillations
& Instabilities- (1992-)